MDR-TB prevention and control in eastern Europe addressed at World Conference on Lung Health

International public health experts and TB specialists reviewed the progress and challenges of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) prevention and control in eastern Europe at a WHO-led workshop at the 45th World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona, Spain on 29 October 2014.

WHO/Europe convened the full-day workshop for specialists from Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Republic of Moldova and Russian Federation as well as the autonomus Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan.

Following on a successful workshop held at the World Conference on Lung Health in October 2013 in Paris, France, this year’s workshop brought together representatives of and partners working in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) with a focus on MDR-TB control. FSU countries face the highest rates of MDR-TB globally, and in response many have made significant progress in implementing the Consolidated Action Plan to Prevent and Combat M/XDR-TB in the WHO European Region. 

Participants shared their experiences and discussed challenges and measures to address co-infection of HIV and MDR-TB, development of optimal models of TB care and new ways to finance the strengthening of ambulatory TB care and social support to TB patients. Speakers presented good practices on involvement of civil society organizations in support of MDR-TB control in the Region both in the civil and penitentiary sectors of health care.

The workshop was attended by more than 100 participants also from the other WHO regions and simultaneous translation into Russian provided the possibility for an interactive panel discussion.